{"id":2526920,"date":"2025-12-30T17:41:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T22:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mamdani-appoints-lawyer-who-defended-terrorist-as-chief-counsel\/"},"modified":"2025-12-30T17:42:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T22:42:50","slug":"mamdani-appoints-lawyer-who-defended-terrorist-as-chief-counsel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mamdani-appoints-lawyer-who-defended-terrorist-as-chief-counsel\/","title":{"rendered":"Mamdani appoints lawyer who defended terrorist as chief counsel"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmamdani-appoints-lawyer-who-defended-terrorist-as-chief-counsel%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2526920&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>New York City Mayor-elect zohran Mamdani has named Ramzi Kassem as his chief counsel. Kassem, a City University of New York law professor and member of Mamdani&#8217;s legal transition team, has defended clients including Ahmed al Darbi &#8211; an al Qaeda member convicted in a 2002 tanker bombing &#8211; and Columbia activist Mahmoud khalil, who led a Gaza solidarity encampment and was later detained by ICE. He co-founded the Creating Law Enforcement Accountability &#038; Obligation Project, has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-left-wing-bail-fund-hasnt-accounted-for-millions-in-donations-its-democratic-allies-have-nothing-to-say\/\" title=\"A Left-Wing Bail Fund Hasn\u2019t Accounted for Millions in Donations. Its Democratic Allies Have Nothing To Say.\">provided legal support<\/a> for students facing immigration actions, and previously served as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-atf-nominee-has-long-history-of-anti-gun-statements\/\" title=\"Biden ATF Nominee Has Long History of Anti-Gun ...\">senior policy adviser<\/a> to President Joe Biden.<\/p>\n<p>Mamdani praised Kassem (alongside incoming corporation counsel Steven Banks) as lawyers who will use the law to protect working people&#8217;s safety and freedoms; kassem said joining the management is a &#8220;privilege&#8221; and a duty to defend civil rights. The appointment has drawn criticism given Kassem&#8217;s past participation in anti\u2011Israel protests, his published comments opposing a two\u2011state solution, and broader controversies around Mamdani&#8217;s own statements.Mamdani and his team will take office on Jan. 1, 2026.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Mamdani picks lawyer who defended al Qaeda terrorist and anti-Israel agitator for NYC chief counsel<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2458894\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>New York City Mayor-elect <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/zohran-mamdani\/\">Zohran Mamdani<\/a> appointed a lawyer who represented an al Qaeda terrorist and Columbia activist Mahmoud Khalil as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-york-city\/\">New York City&rsquo;s<\/a> chief counsel on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>Ramzi Kassem, also a law professor at City University of New York and a member of Mamdani&rsquo;s legal affairs transition team, will advise Mamdani and City Hall on legal matters.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4364944\/democrats-split-merits-jan-6-committee-return-spotlight\/\">Democrats split on merits of Jan. 6 committee&#8217;s return to spotlight<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4364907\/disney-10-million-settlement-children-privacy\/\">Disney agrees to pay $10 million for allegedly violating children&#8217;s privacy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4365030\/iowa-special-election-puts-gop-senate-supermajority-back-in-play\/\">Iowa special election puts GOP Senate supermajority back in play<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Kassem <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/12\/15\/us-news\/lawyer-for-terrorists-tapped-by-mamdani-to-be-top-aide-source\/\">helped defend <\/a>al Qaeda member Ahmed al Darbi, who was convicted of bombing a French oil tanker off the coast of Yemen in 2002. He also defended the Palestinian activist Khalil, who was one of the leaders of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/columbia-university\/\">Columbia University<\/a> and was later arrested by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ice\">Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/a> after his immigration papers were revoked.<\/p>\n<p>The lawyer also participated in anti-<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/israel\/\">Israel<\/a> protests at Columbia, wrote a letter to the editor of the <em>Columbia Spectator <\/em>newspaper&nbsp;criticizing a sandwich named the &ldquo;Israeli wrap&rdquo; for being offensive to Muslims and Arabs, and claimed a two-state solution between Israel and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gaza\/\">Gaza<\/a> &ldquo;is not viable, nor is it desirable.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Kassem is also the co-founder of the Creating Law Enforcement Accountability &amp; Responsibility Project, which has <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >recently provided legal defense<\/a> for students detained by ICE. He also worked as a senior policy adviser to former President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\">Joe Biden<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Mamdani praised Kassem alongside new corporation counsel Steven Banks as lawyers who will fight for working people and their safety and freedoms.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The rule-of-law is the bedrock of good governance, effective leadership, and a city that works for working people,&rdquo; Mamdani said in a statement. &ldquo;With Steve Banks and Ramzi Kassem as my Corporations and Chief Counsel, our City will not only operate in accordance with the law, but will understand and employ it as a critical tool in the fight for working people and to protect their safety and fundamental freedoms.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Kassem called it a &ldquo;privilege&rdquo; and a &ldquo;duty&rdquo; to join Mamdani&rsquo;s fight for working New Yorkers.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As the federal government threatens to undermine civil rights and the rule of law, our city will be on the front lines. We will not allow fear, cruelty, or authoritarianism to take root in our city. As Chief Counsel to the Mayor, my top priority will be to help ensure that all New Yorkers, without exception, can thrive here, in safety and dignity,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Kassem&rsquo;s appointment could add to the controversy surrounding Mamdani&rsquo;s anti-Israel statements and ties. He was widely criticized for his failure to condemn the &ldquo;globalize the intifada&rdquo; phrase earlier this year, before he backtracked and discouraged its use.<\/p>\n<p>Democratic political operative Ken Frydman told the <em>New York Post<\/em> that his appointment won&rsquo;t &ldquo;sit well with the Jewish community.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4364102\/eric-adams-unsure-attending-zohran-mamdani-inauguration\/\">ADAMS UNSURE HE&rsquo;LL ATTEND MAMDANI INAUGURATION, SAYS MAYOR-ELECT&rsquo;S FANS &lsquo;PROTEST EVERYTHING&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Everyone&rsquo;s entitled to legal representation &hellip; even Mahmoud Khalil. But that doesn&rsquo;t mean Ramzi Kassem had to represent him,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\n<p>Mamdani and his administration will take office on Jan. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mamdani taps controversial lawyer as NYC counsel<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2526921,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ramzi.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[69743,69744,49209,56552,69745],"class_list":["post-2526920","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-chief-counsel-appointment","tag-controversial-appointment","tag-defense-attorney","tag-mamdani","tag-terrorism-defense"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ramzi.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2526920","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2526920"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2526920\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2526924,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2526920\/revisions\/2526924"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2526921"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2526920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2526920"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2526920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}